KARL ROBINSON has told MK Dons to treat the play-offs like a “mini season”.
The manager will whisk his players away in the wake of tomorrow’s home game against Walsall to put “closure” on the regular 46-game campaign.
Then it’s down to preparing for the two-legged clash with Town as MK aim to learn from the misery of last season, when they lost out to Peterborough in the semis.
Robinson says that experience still hurts, but believes MK are in much better shape to win promotion this time around.
“Last year we were dealt the worst possible fate in losing our local derby, and that’s as low as it gets,” said the boss.
“After tomorrow’s match, we’re going away for a night. Then when we get home, we will start on the mini season.
“We’ll play the first game, then we’ll go away again, and everyone will be under lock and key.
“We’ll treat it like a World Cup. We have to enjoy it together for the good of the team. I know the wives won’t be too happy with me, but I’m asking for two or three days of their lives which could affect many more lives, and the city’s reputation.
“These people could make the difference in making the city a real dominant football force.”
Work on the impressive stadium:mk is ongoing, and Robinson continued: “I believe that we’re ready for it now.
“We weren’t ready for the Championship last year, as much as I harped on about it last season.
“We weren’t ready as a club, we couldn’t cater for bigger players, and our players have looked at their careers and decided whether or not to move on.
“All you have to do now is look around behind the scenes to see the money invested. The stadium will be finished in the summer. We are ready.
“This club started in the Championship, but we have had tremendous ups and downs over the last eight years, and the players want to provide the chance to watch Championship football again.”
